David Gower

David Gower is a British former professional cricket player, who many consider to be the one of the most talented batsmen of the modern era. He had an elegant batting style which earned him 8,231 runs in 117 test appearances for England.

Gower spent much of his youth in Tanzania but he was actually born in Kent, in Tunbridge Wells. He returned to England to board at The King's School Canterbury, where he shone at Rugby Union.

It was Leicestershire County Cricket Club that gave Gower his debut in 1975. He stayed with the county for the majority of his career. Gower played for Leicestershire for 14 years before moving to Hampshire at the end of the 1989 season. He then played out the remaining four seasons of his career at Hampshire, before retiring in 2003.

Gower had a manner about him which was not always well received by the cricket establishment. He was accused of anything from being lazy with his shots to lacking the seriousness for test cricket. His style was certainly flamboyant and Gower had a reputation for practical jokes. One of these was a famous incident where Gower took another player up in a Tiger Moth biplane whilst the team were playing a warm up match in Australia. They did not release the water bombs as they had originally planned but nevertheless it did not impress captain Graham Gooch or the selection committee. When Gower came out for the fourth test at Aidelaide, it was to the tune of 'those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines'. When Gower was bowled by the last ball before lunch, which he just needed to block, Gooch was even less impressed. Gower was not selected for the next tour and his England career ended somewhat prematurely at the age of 35.

Gower has since launched a very successful TV career, as a captain on 'They Think it's All Over' and as one of the BBC's main cricket commentators and presenters.